In 2025, Canadian specialist physicians reported a median wait of 28.6 weeks from a family-doctor referral to treatment. That is the Fraser Institute’s physician survey figure, published in December 2025. It was down from 30.0 weeks in 2024. It was still the second-longest result in that survey’s history, and far above the 9.3 weeks recorded…
There is no single global drug problem. UNODC estimates that about 331 million people used drugs in 2024. Most of them used cannabis. Opioids, however, account for a much larger share of drug-related deaths. At the same time, the cocaine market continues to expand, while new synthetic opioids continue to emerge, sometimes in forms that…
Economic inequality is often described as a gap between rich and poor. That is true, but incomplete. The deeper issue is how differences in income, wealth, education, health, location, family background, and economic opportunity interact over time. A household with a higher income can save more, acquire assets, withstand an unexpected expense, invest in education,…
Access to safe drinking water is something most Canadians expect as a basic part of everyday life. Yet in some First Nations communities on reserve, residents continue to face drinking water advisories that can last for months or even years. The situation has improved significantly since 2015, when the federal government committed to eliminating all…